The latest on California politics and government

February 7, 2014

Gov. Jerry Brown and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom are among state officials who will receive warning letters in the California Fair Political Practices Commission's investigation of a firm headed by a Sacramento lobbyist who held lavish fundraisers for politicians at his home, a source said.

Thomas Willis, whose law firm represents Brown, Newsom, state lawmakers and various political committees, said in an email that his firm has not seen any warning letters.

"What we can say is that our clients properly paid and disclosed all known expenses," he wrote. "Of course, they did not disclose expenses that they were not made aware of."

Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and Assembly Speaker John Perez also expect to get letters.

Stephen Kaufman, Perez' lawyer, said in a statement that the speaker held one fundraising event at lobbyist Kevin Sloat's home in June 2011.

"The Speaker's committee paid the full amount of the catering invoice that was submitted," the statement said. "The Speaker has no knowledge of any other costs associated with the event. It is our understanding that because legislators were unaware of such expenses and properly reported all known expenses, the FPPC intends to resolve the issue with a warning letter and no further action."

In addition to Brown and Newsom, as many as 40 elected officials are expected to receive warning letters from the commission in the case, in which Sloat Higgins Jensen and Associates, a lobbying firm headed by Sloat, has reached a tentative agreement with FPPC staff to pay fines involving violations of state political disclosure rules.

The action was prompted by a lawsuit filed in Sacramento Superior Court against Sloat and his firm in December by a disgruntled former employee under investigation for embezzlement. The former employee claimed Sloat's elaborate events amount to non-monetary campaign contributions that lobbyists are not permitted to give.

A list provided to The Bee of senators who can expect to get letters included Kevin de Leon, Jerry Hill, Marty Block, Norma Torres, Lou Correa, Alex Padilla, Cathleen Galgiani and Rod Wright.